We're Back!!!!

I’ll be the first to admit it, Greg and I got lazy. Really, really, really lazy. I mean come on, our (mine) last post was in September, three whole months have gone by without so much as a peep from us. And so much has happened in the world of NASCAR, how can this be? Here’s my backasswards attempt at justifying this travesty I, er, we have bestowed upon you our loyal fan(s).

When we first started I email supposed NASCAR junkie Jayski a link to our blog and asked him to check it out. If he liked what he saw, maybe he could post the link on his sight. I wasn’t expecting too much, but his response really annoyed me. He told me he would try to check it out but was very busy. Very busy? You spend all day surfing online for NASCAR articles, couldn’t squeeze that in? And I was shocked to learn he only does the Cup side, everything else is farmed out to two other people. Maybe I caught him at a bad time while he was playing World of Warcraft or Dungeons and Dragons, or some other nerd like video game. I bet he’s the type of person who wears a sweat band, has a custom chair, and plays WoW all day. Exactly like the guy from the South Park where the spoofed World of Warcraft. Thanks for the support Jayski, really appreciate it.

Hail Jimmie Johnson, gotta give him props for taking a stupid points system and making a mockery of it. I can’t hate him anymore, Brian France, you wanted the chase great job. I’m sure having the same person win every year will really put the fans in their seats. As Greg pointed out the other day at work, even if the “old” system people ran away with it, it was self correcting. Outside of Jeff Gordon winning it in 1995, second in 1996, and winning in 1997 and 1998, you never really had dynasties when it came to winning in. From 1999 to 2003 you had five drivers win in five years. In the last five years, you’ve had Jimmie Johnson. History of the chase, three drivers in 7 years. As annoying as the chase is, the real travesty will be if they scrap the points system for this so called “simplified method,” which is a bunch of horse crap. To award points 43 to 1 is just plain stupid, I don’t care how they spin it. They want an exciting points battle, well NASCAR already fixes races why not fix the championship, better yet just tell us who’s going to win in February and stop wasting my time.

I was really afraid when I read last week that Brian Keselowski was the only driver going for Rookie of the Year award this year. After last year’s abortion of an award to Kevin “freakin’” Conway, Keselowski winning it because no one else tried would have just been a second kick to the balls. Thankfully Trevor Bayne is going to run 17 races, which should make him eligible and since Keselowski will probably make 10 races (adding insult to injury if no one else ran) he should win. Nothing against Keselowski, he probably is a nice guy, but start and parking your way to ROTY undermines everything. If that’s the case, I’d buy a car myself, bring it to races, run a lap and park it. Collect my check for the race, then get the big check at the awards banquet, then ride off into the sunset laughing my ass off. Actually, what am I waiting for….

You knew this was coming, touching on NASCAR changing all sorts of rules/guidelines/points whatever. They get a pass on limiting that drivers only run for one championship, that was smart and stupid. Smart to make it a run, stupid it had to come to that, the fact teams/drivers have to be policed like that. But with everything else, just leave it alone. I don’t want to preach and be that guy who doesn’t like change, but I swear they’re just changing stuff to change stuff, not that it’s necessarily broken. Take last year, “have at it boys,” they thought if they did that ratings would soar. Well, ok, give people a golden pass to kill one another you might get a few more fans, but why would you do that? More needed to be done BEFORE Gateway last year, but no, it’s all about waiting to see if this improves ratings. More exciting points battles down to the wire, can be exciting, but just because someone is good for 10 races makes them the champ? This isn’t a stick and ball sport stop making that way. As someone said on Scene Dailey’s Facebook page, “NASCAR motto should be keep fixing what isn’t broke until it is.” Mine on that page, which no one commented on/liked…assholes, was explaining that NASCAR is like a child in a museum. Compelled to touch everything, well STOP it NASCAR! Go sit in the corner and wait for your Mom to come pick you up. I swear Brian France if he loved NASCAR like he should, like his father before him, he would resign and let someone else who loves NASCAR run it. Every decision he makes is based off of money and not what is good for the sport. Every time he talks crap just comes out his mouth.

Anyways, it might not sound like it but I am getting excited for the new year of racing. And I pledge to keep writing this year and not take long gaps off, because obviously these thoughts and rants are too good to keep all to myself.

September 26, 2010 News and Notes

So obviously posting once a week was a challenge neither Greg nor I thought would be, well, a challenge. But here we are, live and learn. So let me quickly bang (haha) something out for y’all to enjoy.

Kudos to Kevin Harvick for standing up to the dumb words of Denny Hamlin. Outside of some digs about Dale Earnhardt, I don’t think he could have done more to draw the ire of Richard Childress Racing. If they’re fighting to be in the Chase, why would they knowingly cheat? I’m going to go with RCR on this one, even though their appeal will probably fail. I don’t think they’d cheat, but I also don’t like Denny Hamlin.

In between watching the Bills vs Patriots I was able to watch parts of today’s race. What I saw was confusing and repetitive. AJ Allmendinger leading for over 100 was the confusing, and repetitive was Jimmie Johnson getting a win/turning into high gear for yet another championship. Can’t wait to call him the five time champ, that won’t be annoying at all.

Glad ESPN narrowed it down to only paying attention to 12 drivers during Cup coverage. I’m sure no one else on the track matters except for the Chase drivers. And commercial with 15 to go? Really? Jack hole move ESPN. Last coverage blast, interviewing Danica Patrick after she finished only 98 or so laps down? Again, really? I did like her responses, which were honest and better than I thought they’d be. You barely found time for the fifth place driver in Reed Sorenson, but of course had 10 minutes blocked off for her. Like Brett Favre, the media is making me hate another athlete. Well, no, Favre is just a massive tool, nevermind.

Speaking of annoying, I am very curious about the new Burger King breakfast, but those commercials, almost turning me away. I would gladly buy whatever garbage you are serving if you just stop with the weird looking people sort of not really signing about Burger King. Outside of when Crisco sponsored Jimmy Spencer, has there ever been such a perfect marriage of driver and sponsor like Tony Stewart and Burger King. When I used to (for like a month) race online I once did the Tony Stewart pregame. That being wolfing down a Whopper, fries, and drink during practice. I did not win, I do believe someone crashed into me, because it’s never my fault, right Greg?

With online racing, my career was brief and annoying because I wasn’t that good, but I wouldn’t throw in the towel like my team was run by Phil Parsons. I ran until the end hoping I’d get better because I just invested so much time I’m not going to just quit and move on. I still don’t understand the mental side to starting and parking. As a driver I can see how it keeps your name out there, but you go two laps and you’re done. Unless everyone is on the Kevin Conway, which means hitting on daughters/wives/mothers of other drivers, not worth it. Financially doing it in Cup makes sense, not so much Nationwide.

Reviewing old Nationwide races, there have been starters and parkers forever, so in theory we shouldn’t be too much in arms about it. Also from reviewing the old races, they did enough races away from Cup that alone discouraged the Cup drivers from racing all season. Sure one or two might dabble, but you also have to notice that few Cup teams had Nationwide teams in the 80s and 90s. Thus they relied on their own full time drivers to race, and maybe a few teams would have a Cup driver every now and then. Which I enjoyed seeing the Nationwide (well at the time Busch) versions of cars like Michael Waltrip’s #30 Pennzoil Pontiac, Bill Elliott’s #11 Budweiser Ford, Dale Earnhardt’s #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet, Ernie Irvan’s #4 Kodak Film Chevrolet, and so on.

Congrats to Austin Dillon for proving once again, talent skips a generation. Just look at Mike Dillon’s stats, terrible.

Well that’s all I can think of right now, so I’ll turn my efforts to badgering Greg to post something this week until he does or snaps and punches me at work. Wish me luck!

We're back!!!

I know what you’re all saying, “what the heck have you guys been doing for the last three weeks!?” Inexcusable, I know that. We should be putting out at least something once a week, unwritten rule. I could sit here and blame Greg or Sam Adam’s Octoberfest or Greg, but that’s just childish finger pointing. Because we all know it is Greg’s fault. Without further ado, let’s hit the ground running:

I’ve gotten to watch a few of the last IRL races on VS and I have to say I’m impressed. They went out of their way to get announcers/pit reports that used to work IndyCar coverage in the past, and one former NASCAR announcer. That is fantastic, it was like I was watching 1995 ESPN coverage of it, minus Paul Page. They had Bob Jenkins (which is a travesty that he’s calling IndyCar and not ESPN, no offense Marty Reid, but you are not Bob Jenkins), Jon Beekhuis (humorous name, great commentary guy), and Robbie Buhl (another example of terrible athletic/participant good announcer) in the booth. The on pit road Jack Arute (the Dr. Jerry Punch of IndyCar, I docket him points for being too excited during Indy 500 qualifying, but am over it), Lindy Thackston and Robbie Floyd (both knew their stuff, I just got nothing good to input about them) in the pits. This is what you do, you get established people and maybe work in a new guy every now and then. You don’t just go out and get a couple of former drivers, former owners, current owner, and Jim Bob off the street (also known as Phil Parsons) to drag you through a race. It’s not terrible, but I’m also spacing out most of the time about what their saying.

Instead of putting all the marketing and hope in Danica Patrick, we should be backing drivers who, I don’t know, deserve to be there instead. One such driver is Chrissy Wallace, daughter of Mike Wallace. You have the name recognition, she is good looking, and has show promises of potential, yet she has no starts in all three series this year (not saying Cup, but Truck atleast! Come on!). Just annoying that she can’t get a ride, but let’s stop the presses and get someone who is more famous for suggestive commercials that racing. But this happens everywhere, drivers who have family connections with companies and grizzled veterans somehow get the rides but up and coming drivers like Bryan Clauson, Billy Wease, and Burney Lamar (to name a few) come and gone to never be heard from again.

Warning, only time I’ll every say something good about Kyle Busch. I was impressed with his triple win feat at Bristol. I give him a lot of credit to run that much in one weekend. Now I’m going to take a shower, I feel dirty.

Atlanta provided a really good race, with hard racing almost throughout. Then it is built for those multiple lanes to be used that turns up the excitement, the only problem was the fact that race lasted for FOUR hours. That was terrible, just, too freakin’ long. I don’t blame people for going, I’m going to have to revert to Bill Simmons take on the length of things on this one. “I'm the same guy who once created the 150-Minute Rule for all movies, sporting events, concerts, even sex -- if you edge past 150 minutes for anything, you better have a really good reason (July 29, 2010 column).” I’ll bump it to 3 hours for a race, but four is just plain silly. People always ask me how I can watch NASCAR. Well I watch it, sort of, because I’ll be working on other things such as checking stocks of local interest (porn), or maybe I’m cooking something (porn), or even cleaning my room (of porn). If I was to sit and watch the race, I’d be hard press to not wonder away to another channel, we’re a country with a declining attention span. Heck, if I didn’t say “porn” over and over, you’d probably have already moved on to another website.

Just saying it, I hate the Chase. I hate what it is, I hate what it represents, I hate that it exists, I hate that everyone talks about it, and I hate that I am talking about it right now. It’s just plain stupid, and if they go to an elimination style Chase I’d be hard press to keep being a fan. I think I’ve covered it before, but this is auto racing, it’s not a stick and ball sport.

Thankfully Kevin Conway was picked up by Robby Gordon Motorsports to continue his quest to be Rookie of the Year. It was scary to think a driver who is terrible but has some in with a sponsor would not be able to crash out the year on route to a Rookie of the Year title he wins simply because he’s the only one competing for it. Instead of dwelling on that small fact, I like to live in a dream world. My roommate Jeff helped paint this picture, that after Conway parks for the race he spends the rest of the time hitting on wives/daughters of other drivers. Maybe throwing out there that his sponsor is Extenze and they should “do the math, baby.”

This just in, Dale Earnhardt, he’s still dead. Won’t be coming back, so stop saying Kyle Busch is the next Dale Earnhardt or even (more insulting) Brad Keselowski is the second coming. Just because a driver is an idiot and wrecks people, doesn’t mean he’s Dale Earnhardt. When playing NASCAR 09, if I wreck someone, I don’t go around going “I’m Dale Earnhardt! Woo!” then catch my breath because I’m fat. No, that doesn’t happen (especially the fat part, I’m totally in shape and awesome, anyways I digress). Busch has a similar drive to win at all costs, but without the charisma Earnhardt had. Keselowski hasn’t done anything but almost get killed by Carl Edwards, so how does he even come into the debate. From now on I’m going to proclaim, and proclaim loudly that Dale Eanrhardt, Jr. is the next Dale Earnhardt. Because literally that is correct, on the track someone kicked that apple far from the tree. Ed Hinton makes some good points in his article, but I’m still not sold.

The Chase and Kevin Conway, two things that drive me to drink. A few others, the Jonas Brothers, work, Jersey Shore, my golf game, bills, work, New York Rangers roster moves, women, and work.

I’m sure there was more I wanted to touch on, but since I didn’t write it down, oh well. Greg and I have a good combo article coming out hopefully sooner than later, so keep checking back in. Thanks for stopping by and stay classy.

News and Notes – August 18, 2010

Announced yesterday Kevin Harvick will officially have sponsorship in 2011 by Budweiser. That’s good, as noted earlier by myself, it’s a good fit in sponsor and driver. The downside? Well for one, Budweiser will only be on the car for 20 races. Now I know that it takes a lot, I can’t stress that enough, a lot of money to run a Cup car now a days. But call me old fashion because I liked the old days where teams had one sponsor, maybe a few special paint schemes along the way. What would you like to see, #29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet or #29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser/Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups/Rheem Water Heaters/Realtree Camouflage Chevrolet presented by Brawny Hand Towels. Just saying…And it’s not just Harvick and Budweiser, but DuPont is bowing out from primary sponsorship of Jeff Gordon. Again, they’ll be there, but at a reduced level. What’s happening!? Back to Harvick,
I don’t like the paint scheme, and it has to do with the number. The number is the first thing you see, draws your eyes, which should the sponsor be pulling your eyes? I’m not going to go looking for some 12 packs of 29 Beer? No, I need to be drawn to Budweiser. Need to re-do the number font to something similar to Ken Schrader’s Budweiser car.

Also happening at Richard Childress Racing Paul Menard is bring his lack luster driving “talent” and father’s deep pockets there. Listen, I like the guy, that annoying yellow draws me in like a fly to a light, but he’s been racing NASCAR for seven years now with one win (Nationwide in 2006). Of all the drivers who use family ties to get to this level (think Eric McClure, Brent Sherman, and John Wes Townley) he’s the best. With that line up not sure how much of a compliment it is for him. Maybe he gets with RCR and does awesome next year, I’d be ok eating my words, but my gut is telling me another subpar season awaits.

Our flashback of the week brings us to Jocko Maggiacomo. This driver out of Poughkeepsie, NY ran 23 cup races over a ten year span. Still laughing about the name? What isn’t a laughing matter is why you might know him. He would be the driver who damn near killed Bobby Allison in 1988, but with a name like that, how can you stay mad?

Marcos Ambrose moves to the number 9 car for Richard Petty Motorsports which, as reported earlier by myself, is a great move to make himself top dingo. I can’t wait to see what he can do in this situation.

Finally found Speed Channel for the Truck race tonight, so far, very impressed. Got to see the Whelen Modified race before this, made even better by my boy Ryan Newman winning. Modifieds are what I grew up on and I’m glad Speed takes the time to show them. Hopefully more people get into them. Was hoping former Roush Racing castaway Chuck Hossfeld would have done better, but maybe Jack knows something I don’t know. As for the Truck race, hasn’t started yet but very impressed with the coverage. Anytime you can have Ray Dunlap report for you, good times will be had. Some cool pre-race specials such as a flashback moment and question of the week for the drivers. And pleasantly surprised by Krista Voda’s contribution, did a great job and should be included in the Cup series coverage somehow, and Krista if you’re reading this…congratulations on your recent marriage…sigh.

Kasey Kahne to team Red Bull was an interesting move, but makes the most sense. Don’t have to court a sponsor for him, it’s a competitive team, and he fits their image which they can exploit for a year. What doesn’t make sense about this whole thing (spoiler alert it isn’t Mark Martin staying for another season) it’s that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is there for another year. I know he’s a sponsorship cash cow (think more popular Paul Menard) but has been turning in subpar performances for over three years now (think Paul Menard again). How many chances can this guy get and continue to show he’s no good (think Paul Menard again…again)? I’m pretty sure unless everyone crashes, he won’t win again. He doesn’t have it, he had it when he first came into Cup, he just lost it. The Kyle Petty gene hit him hard and early, a flame out wasn’t planned until about five years from now.

Morgan-McClure Motorsports returned from the dead this weekend to try and get into the Bristol race. I’m sure their four fans are really excited about this. Sense some bitterness? Yeah, there’s some, well A LOT! I followed them in the early 1990s when Kodak sponsored them. My father worked at Kodak so it was a perfect car to follow with that connection. But they got cocky and thought since it worked in 1991, it’ll work in 2001, not paying attention that time and technology changes. So they ran that sponsorship into the ground, and I blame for running out of the sport after a few decent years with Penske, the damage had already been done. Flash to 2003, they had young up and coming driver Johnny Sauter drive their car. Sign him! Sign him! Nope, they didn’t, he goes to RCR, fired within 20 races. The next year (Kodak sponsorship gone) they have Kevin Lepage, fire him, then Johnny is available, what do they do? Jimmy Spencer, sure, why not? I’m sure he’s not old, washed up, terrible, smelly, old, not good, old, terrible, crash prone, old, or anything else. Good decision, wouldn’t change a thing. At least Larry McClure got his after getting sent to Federal prison, imagine that, the Federal government doesn’t like it when you don’t pay taxes, what a concept.

Now I’m angry, let me continue ranting. Rumors fly about a Nationwide chase proposal. Spoiler alert, WORST IDEA EVER! How will that “fix” this series? So now a Cup driver can miss races, if he’s in the top 10, bam, in the chase still can win. Here’s my proposal, cap the number of Cup drivers in each race, then cap the number of races they can make in a year. You sign something at the beginning of the year that you’re main series will be the Cup series, then you pick your races, first come, first served, or better yet have them send in their entries and again first come first served. That’s what you do, don’t further make this into Cup Series light. There already is a Cup Lite Series, and I have a feeling NASCAR is going to find a way to goo that up too.

Alright, Truck race just started, which is awesome, where else can you see Magnum P.I. cover the pits during a NASCAR race? Only on Speed baby! Ray Dunlap left, Magnum P.I. right, you tell me they're not the same person.

Kevin Conway? Really?

I just want our loyal readers to sit back in their seats right now, and think real fast about whom in their minds was the worst rookie of the last 28 years. Right now. You think of it yet? Chances are, of the 4 of you that are reading this, you came up with 4 different answers. Lord knows there is a plethora of good choices. You have guys like Clark Dwyer in 1984 (made 26 of 30 races, led just 1 lap, 0 lead lap finishes), Steve Christman in 1987 (20 of 29 races, DNQ’d for 5 of them, and again 0 lead lap finishes), or the fan favorite Eddie Bierschwale from 1985. I’d list off Eddies incomparable stats, but I’m sure you’re far too busy typing his name into Google to find out how to pronounce his name to care. But those are just a few of the individual rookies that decided to toss their hat into the NASCAR Sprint Cup series through the years. I want to examine a few of the worst CLASSES of rookies to see of which year was the incoming class the absolute worst, if anything just to show the masses that Kevin Freakin’ Conway and the 2010 rookies may suck harder than a Hoover in a power surge, but he may not the leader of the worst class of rookies. Or is he?

Now for a little bit of reasoning and criteria. I chose 1982 and forward, because basically, I was born in 1982 and I have little true knowledge of NASCAR prior to that point. There is no real point to me spouting wisdom about something to which I have little knowledge of. That would just make me a Fox News reporter, and that would be wrong. As well, its just plain easier to just focus on 28 years than it is the entire history of Sprint Cup racing. Who isn’t for easy??? We built this city on easy! And Rock ‘n Roll, but that’s neither here nor there. The actual method I used to select my “Worst Rookie Classes” was pretty basic and simple. In other words, it was completely subjective. I used some statistical analysis (with data strewn from Racing-Reference.info), along with some historical perspective to select whom I feel is the worst class since the Breakfast Club and Carrie. I mean, really, how bad could Kevin Freakin’ Conway and the class of 2010 be when compared to Greg Sacks and Phil Parsons?

With all that said, let’s get on with the dog and pony show!

Year: 1984
Top Driver from this class: Rusty Wallace (pictured)
Why did it suck? Well let’s see. Maybe because the second place finisher in the standings for the Rook’s was the wonderboy, Greg Sacks. He of 14 DNF’s in 29 starts, and an average finish so far below the Mason-Dixon Line, it had its very own tobacco plantation. Finishing right behind Sacks was Start ‘n’ Parks favorite current NASCAR team owner, Phil Parsons, who somehow wrangled 3 top 10s on the year despite not once finishing on the lead lap. Worse, still? Clark Dwyer. While not having the last name of Griswold, one would believe that Clark drove a wood paneled station wagon in most races, as poor as he ran. I can promise you that unless you are a NASCAR historian, or follow the sport as if it is a form of religion, you have no idea who Clark Dwyer is (he DID lead 1 lap though). That alone should tell you how bad this class was. Sure, Rusty came out of the class and turned into one of the greatest drivers of the Modern Era, even grabbing a Cup title. He even ran respectably in his rookie year. But that doesn’t take away from the sheer amount of suck eminating from the remaining members of the Class of 1984. Megan Foxs’ acting in “Jonah Hex” wasn’t this bad.

Year: 1988
Top Driver from his class: Ernie Irvan (pictured)
Why did it suck? I almost just wanted to name the winner of the Rookie of the Year for 1988, and say “That’s why.” Then walk slowly away as some calm, disenchanting music played behind me. But even though the top driver to come out of this class is Ernie Irvan, he didn’t win the award (and by all statistical accounts, didn’t deserve to anyway). The winner in 1988 was Ken Bouchard. No not that Bouchard. The other one. After 1988, he ran only 8 more races in his Cup career, which means his rookie season amounts to nothing more than a dine and dash at Dennys. At least Irvan stuck around to pay the check, collecting 15 wins over the next 12 seasons. However judging by his rookie campaign, it’s a miracle he did, as he never finished on the lead lap and parked it 7 times in 25 starts. What’s the kicker for this season? Brad Noffsinger. He of only 17 races in 1988 for Curb Racing. Of 17 starts, 7 were DNF’s. He averaged a start position of 35th. His finishing average was about the age the Olson Twins will probably OD on some sort of designer drug (25). He never raced in Sprint Cup again which came as a shock to no one. So, to summarize, this class stunk.

Year: 1989
Top Driver from his class: Dick Trickle (*giggle* pictured)
Why did it suck? First of all, the winner of the Rookie of the Year was born in the Jurrasic period, that should be reason enough. Just when you think that a rookie class headed by a guy named Dick Trickle couldn’t possibly stink worse than John Candy after a night at the buffet, bam! We hit you with some knowledge. The rookie class included Hut Stricklin, who had a minimal 6 did-not-finishes, by rookie standards, out of his 27 starts, but ranked last in the class with a starting spot of 28th on the grid. You don’t run well when you start three quarters deep in the field every race. Running just behind them, was Larry Pearson. He obviously didn’t receive the talent gene in the Pearson pool. Even worse for Larry, he was the only one of the class to not improve on his starting position on average, starting 21st every race, just to end up one back in 22nd. In his defense, those 11 times he did not finish in 29 starts really does hold back that average. Should I mention Jimmy Spencer, Mr. Excitement? Meh. He didn’t amount to much, wrecking out in 9 of his 17 starts. I won’t even venture further into that monstrosity. Probably ate too much of his sponsor (Crisco). Rarely did anyone in this class even sniff the lead lap, with the exception of Dick Trickle and his 7 lead lap finishes. Yes, I do plan on saying his full name, Dick Trickle, every chance I can get. Dick Trickle. No wonder ESPN always spotlighted him, his name, Dick Trickle, is just darn funny!

Year: 2008
Top driver from his class: Regan Smith (really? ...pictured. begrudgingly.)
Why did it suck? This class is still very young, in the sense that in NASCAR Sprint Cup now a days, its very hard to just jump in a ride and go fast. But now that we are 2 years removed, I think it is now pretty safe to start making points based on their performance. And lets just say, that performance left a lot to be desired. Regan Smith brought home the title of Rookie of the Year, despite not garnering 1 single solitary top 10, and even missing a couple races. Sam Hornish Jrs’ experiment coming from the likes of open wheel racing for Penske was a total disaster, as he missed 2 races, and tore up more cars than he brought home clean. Don’t even get me started on how many provisionals he had to use just to make the field every week. Patrick Carpentier may have been awful, but at least he got a pole at Loudon. When you’re done reading this, please tell me how THAT happened. Anyway, besides those three wonderkinds, we had Michael McDowell, who is more famous for his spectacular flip at Texas during qualifying than anything he ever did on Sundays. So basically, this class looking back, really has nothing going for it. The top driver now races for a team that is one small step away from being a start ‘n’ park (Regan Smith). Another is barely hanging on despite some strong runs in the last year (Hornish). Two others barely get a breath of gas fumes yet alone a decent ride to run in any of NASCARs top series (Carpentier and McDowell). This rookie bunch just goes to show you…….actually, I have no idea what it shows you. How many ways can you describe “bad” without repeating yourself?

Year: 2010
Top driver from this class: Kevin Freakin’ Conway
Why does it suck? Where do I start….First things first, lets’ get this fact out of the way. Kevin Freakin’ Conway does not deserve to be in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race car. In any way. The prevailing commonallity in a lot of the guys that we have mentioned in previous seasons is that they were selected by their owners because in some way, shape or form, they showed some exceptional talent in another series or lower divison. What has Kevin Freakin’ Conway done to deserve a top series ride? Oh yea….he brought along Extenze sponsorship. Great. Not only does he suck, he promotes a drug that makes me get a humongo hoo-hoo dilly on a weekly basis. He really is worthless, and looking at his statistics, it just affirms the fact that this guy needs to go. His average start is 40th, keeping in mind that only 43 cars start any given race. His average finish is 32nd. Mike could get 32nd in his stock 2009 Malibu. Heck, I could probably pull that off in my Aveo. I just want to sit here and spout off for the next 8 paragraphs just how much Kevin Freakin’ Conway is a gigantic waste of NASCAR space. Can anyone give me one good reason why Conway has a ride, yet other drivers who are far better at being mediocre toil around in the Nationwide series? No one can tell me Steve Wallace wouldn’t be able to get a top 25 average finish in a car, if Conway can’t even crack the top 30. This guy is the biggest joke since Carrot Tops “career”. The only thing he’s succeeded at is making me laugh at him every week. If he races outside of 2010 in any of the top three series, I will be utterly shocked. He alone makes mentioning the remaining rookies not even worth the effort. They could all be Dale Earnhardt reincarnates, but the amount of sucktitude he has kills any decency the others may have brought to the table. Oh wait he carries full sponsorship into 2011? Looks’ like we’re stuck with him. *sigh*

So looking back at all those numbers and all that information, it really does become clear that Kevin Freakin’ Conway and the rookie class of 2010 really is the worst in the last 28 years. The sport in its current form needs high talent, high marketability rookies to tout going into the next decade. Aging superstars like Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Mark Martin (he was born around the time of Dick Trickle), and yes even Jimmie Johnson, they won’t be around forever. NASCAR needs new blood, and this years rookies just will not cut it. Brent Sherman need not apply. Joey Logano is a step in the right direction, but he’s just one fish in a big pond. We need another early 90s blitz, with Burton, Gordon, Bobby Labonte, and later in the decade the emergence of Kurt Busch and Dale Jr, along with Kenseth. Where will next years rookie class rate? Along side the guys just mentioned, or are we looking at 1984 all over again? NASCAR has no where to go but up, but Kevin Freakin’ Conway is not going to help.

Oh yea, I forgot. Dick Trickle.

Rapid Reaction Watkins Glen

Rapid Reaction to the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen from Watkins Glen

A very special Rapid Reaction for you all I’m going to jump into the memory lane machine and relive the races I’ve been to. Congratulations to Juan Pablo Montoya on the win, had the best car, and needed this win.

1992 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Kyle Petty

Very first race and got to sit on the front stretch across from the pits, which was notable because my driver Davey Allison had broken his wrist (and other things) two weeks before and had a driver change we got to see. Also met Ernie Irvan, who spent more time trying to get out of giving us his autograph than actually signing stuff. To an eight year old kid he might as well have kicked my dog being my second favorite driver, thanks Ernie, you prick. Only 51 of 90 laps run due to rain. Check out Kyle's flowing locks from back in the day.

1993 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Mark Martin
We moved our seats to the inner loop, it was alright there. Slight upgrade from the front stretch, but not the best still. Mark’s first of three wins in a row. Nothing really of note here other than this was the race Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt crashed in the esses, which we heard about as my Mom made us leave early. Thanks Mom!

1995 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Mark Martin
Missed 1994 due to a cross country trip, my Dad didn’t think we’d be back in time. Of course we were, but oh well. Moved our seats to the Red/White/Blue section in the esses. Of course no dramatic finish like in 1993 to witness.

1996 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Geoffrey Bodine

Same seats as in 1995, my driver of the time Ken Schrader ran upfront all day, then dropped back near the end opening up the win for Bodine, his last in his career. At the time I thought that was the worst race ever because of him winning, now looking back that wasn’t and historically it was good to see a Bodine win at the Glen.

1997 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
Gordon starts his strangle hold on the race, nothing much of note here.

1998 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
Ditto.

1999 Kmart 400 – Michigan: Winner Dale Jarrett
First time out to Michigan for a race and it was a snoozer. No cautions, Jarrett leads 150 of 200 laps, race over in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Welcome to Michigan.

1999 Frontier @ The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
New name for the event and Gordon dominated, led 55 of 90 laps. Nothing really jumps out in the memory bank about this one.

2000 Kmart 400 – Michigan: Winner: Tony Stewart
Rain shorted race saw 194 of 200 laps completed. Most vivid memory was seeing the guy in front of me with a brand new red hat that once it rained, began running red ink onto his white shirt. No wonder we pay those Chinese kids 5 cents an hour, look at the quality they’re putting out!

2000 Global Crossings @ The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Steve Park

Local boy Steve Park (East Northport, NY) gets his first win at his “home” track. Very good to see, also led 53 of 90 laps enroute.

2000 UAW-GM Quality 500 – Charlotte: Winner Bobby Labonte
Dale Jarrett got his by crashing on lap 158, make me watch the most boring race ever last year at Michigan you prick! Coolest part about this was stopping at all the race shops on the way down in the Mooresville area. Also scored Harry Gant’s autograph that weekend, that was cool.

2001 Kmart 400 – Michigan: Winner Jeff Gordon
Last trip to Michigan saw Gordon lead 143 of 200 laps beating my driver Ricky Rudd.

2001 Pennsylvania 500 – Pocono: Winner Bobby Labonte
Of course Rudd won the first Pocono race and not the one I go to. At least I got his autograph that weekend. Labonte came out of nowhere to beat Earnhardt, Jr. for the win. Race wasn’t that bad in person, but I’ve said it, this race on TV is too long and too boring!

2001 Global Crossings @ The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
Why doesn’t he just win every race I go to! I got Kevin Lepage’s autograph that day, not too broken up that I can’t find it anymore. This was annoying because that day I was pulling for Robby Gordon, and what have I said? This guy if he didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck. The box that houses the information sent to the TV broadcast (i.e. speed, braking, etc) blows up in his car. Only reason this was cool, since I was using a scanner I knew before anyone else what happened, given away with my very loud expletive I let out.

2002 Daytona 500 – Daytona: Winner Ward Burton

Thanks to Jeff Gordon running into Kevin Harvick to trigger a crash to eliminate most of the field, Ward Burton won this race. This, my friends, was the single worst race ever. I finally go to Daytona, and Ward Burton wins!? Being there for a week and a half was cool, just mad expensive for all the races. Nearly $200 for one ticket for the 500! Again, Ward Burton? And to think I was complaining about Jeff Gordon winning all the time.

2002 Sirius Satellite Radio At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
Tony picks up the win over my new (and current favorite) Ryan Newman.

2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 – Richmond: Winner Joe Nemechek
Just below Ward Burton on the “if I could pick anyone to NOT win today’s race” list Front Row Joe would be up there. Another rain shortened race, 393 of 400 laps completed. Also notable for Jerry Nadeau getting messed up in a practice crash just before we got to the track.

2003 Sirius Satellite Radio At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Robby Gordon
Robby picked up the win after leading 30 of the 90 laps. I was happy, splitting my time cheering for him and Newman at this point. Notable as Johnny Miller’s second career start…don’t know who he is? Look it up.

2004 Sirius At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart

This Stewart guy is going to keep winning here, so we should all accept it. No qualifying this year, but this track is notorious for rain outs for qualifying. 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008 all rained out. Plus there was a few times we had to leave (to get home at a good time) before it could start because of rain.

2005 Sirius Satellite Radio At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
Apparently “Satellite Radio” is cool again to put on the name. Oh yeah, Stewart led 83 of 90 laps, wish I had brought a pillow.

2006 AMD At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Kevin Harvick
I almost forgot this one, my Dad was excited as a Kevin Harvick fan. Random title sponsor, AMD as in the chip maker. Not those chips, chips like Intel, nice of me to mention a competitor that’s much better known to describe what they do.

2007 Centurion Boats At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
Stewart kept it to 20 laps led this time around. Curious name again, because when I think boats, I think NASCAR.

2008 Centurion Boats At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Kyle Busch

Busch is a turd, but had the best car that day, led 52 of 90 laps. Got to see Marcos Ambrose run up front and that was fun. Side note, anyone from Australia/New Zealand, I can’t ever imagine them being angry. The accent makes them sound so happy all the time. Let's not forget when Harvick and Montoya tried to talk out problems on the track...with their fists!

2009 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
This one doesn’t really count. I had a ticket, was there Sunday, but rain (again with the rain!) forced it to Monday. I kept track of it work, big crash with Sam Hornish, Jr. and Jeff Gordon and that Ambrose character finished second.

2010 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Juan Pablo Montoya
Montoya had the dominate car, leading 74 of 90 laps. Our section cheered for Ambrose, but unless he crashed Montoya, he wasn’t going to win.

To conclude, I’ve been to a few races (25) to be exact. So if you ever go “what makes you think you’re an expert?” that is what makes me an expert on the fan experience. It was always nice to go see another track, but my heart is always with my home track of Watkins Glen.

Watkins Glen - Saturday

5:30 am - That's right, we're doing this thing early! Gotta get to Watkins Glen and beat all the traffic, that and I was too lazy to run errands last night after work. We're looking at leaving by 6:30 to be down at the Glen by 8:30 am.

8:45 pm- Arrived at the track.

9:00 am - First beers!

9:41 am- Walked into the track the blow cash, check out the chicks, and get free samples!

10:41 am - Blew through a ton of cash on 1/64th scale cars to pad my collection. Scored myself a Justin Allugair Verizon hat. Suck it Matt Bush! AT&T my ass. 10:51 am - Back to the car to drop off my loot and eat some subs. Cup qualifying going on. Montoya, R. Gordon, J. Gordon, and Menard last I saw.

1:25 pm - Back to the track, qualifying over Edwards, McMurray (? What did I miss?), Montoya, and Allmendinger top 5.

1:50 pm - Driver introductions. Drivers I'm cheering: Justin Allgair, Jacques Villenuve, Kevin Harvick, and Marcos Ambrose.

2:01 pm - National anthem time.

2:09 pm - Engines on! Kyle Busch looking for win 10 on the year, hopefully it doesn't happen.

2:28 pm - Brendan Gaughan looped it in one, Ambrose still leads.

2:45 pm - Pit stops started about lap 10, going for the work backwards strategy. Added bonus didn't realize my boy Newman was in this race. Ambrose in lap 17, let's see if streching it will hurt him.

2:50 pm - Caution out lots of action. 05 blew a left front, Menard. Booted Raines, and Harvick too fast on pit road. Logano was leading Ambrose, shows the difference in pitting early to late.

8:36 pm - So we kind of cut off here, well what ended up happening is when I was filming a restart there was about a 15 car pile up right in front of us! My youtube video. It was awesome I had the phone camera going, but with that in mind it killed the battery. So I had to decided between more pictures (maybe video) instead of continuing the blog and maybe missing some things. It was a fun, annoying haha, process of trying to keep you all informed. Unfortunitly I would need a lap top to make it easier to update and keep focus on what is going on. With that, there will be no Sunday blogging from the track. What you will see is that on my way back, battery power provided, I will try to post my reaction to the event. And if you thought I was kidding about blowing through money, 11 1/64th scale cars later...Until tomorrow, thanks for stopping by!